Day One: Evening

[Android 17]

Although he had arrived at his present location a few hours ago, the android had done little of nothing in that span of time. For the duration of the trek across the scenic terrain, Seventeen had remained completely silent, and even within the swirling chaos of his mind, there was a strange, foreboding sense of calm. Upon crossing from one biome and into the next, the cyborg had taken a sentry position in the midst of the barren, desolate landscape.

“All of his is vaguely familiar,” the android spoke, shattering the silence that reigned over the warrior for the last few hours. “Reminds me of Kala or those plains from this show’s spin-off,” he added, kicking at the overcooked, fissured earth with the tip of his boot.

It took you three hours of staring to figure that out? The voice inquired—his tone strangely less confrontation than it had been in the earlier hours of the day. Despite the softened intonation, there was still a thick air of sarcasm that gave the android the impression that the voice was snickering beneath his breath. Someone give this man a medal.

“Silence,” hissed Seventeen, his left eye twitching as he scanned the darkened horizon for any signs of opposition. “I’ve been busy planning,” he added after realizing—much to his dismay—that he had wandered into a virtual no man’s land.

Plans usually require players. The voice retorted, lightly laughing as the machine-hybrid’s shoulders sagged forward. All you’ve done since your run-in with that threesome is prattle on to me about how angry and hateful you are, but all you’ve done is wander around aimlessly. Now you’re here, in the middle of bumblefuck, and you’re doing that irritating thing where you get all spacey-eyed and start reflecting on your past.

“Lay off,” Seventeen snarled. With a sigh, the android moved for the first time since 8 o’clock. Shifting the straps that clutched to his shoulders, he began to move deeper into the crag-laden ecosystem—his eyes narrow and his hands sweaty. “I’ll do as much reflection as I want…it’s my life.”

Your life? The voice replied, punctuating the remark with a manic fit of laughter that caused the machine-hybrid to cringe. This hasn’t been ‘your life’ for years now. You’re still just as big a tool as you were when you woke up during that invasion.

“How would you know?” The cybernetic warrior snapped as a frown spread across his pallid countenance. “You’ve only been pestering the shit out of me for a few days,” he replied, grinning suavely as if he had scored the winning touchdown of the game.

Oh please. The disembodied voice shot back, sounding obviously amused at the cyborg’s response. We have always been as one. You can’t imagine how many times I was the only reason why we got out of some asinine situation that you’re bratty friends or inane sense of justice got us into. We’ve been working together all along, you pounce…you just haven’t been as accepting of me until recently.

“Meh,” Seventeen replied, rolling his eyes as he drew the boomerang from his initial duffel bag. With a frown, the machine-hybrid sent it zipping across the desolate landscape. As it began to arch back around, the android lifted a hand up and caught the archaic wooden plaything a few feet behind his head. “I don’t need you,” he added, his eyes radiating a faint red hue as he stared into the smooth, slightly reflective surface of the boomerang.

Such arrogance. The voice replied with a mock gasp. I’m glad to see that I’ve taught you something amidst all of this.

For the first time in the last twenty-four hours, Seventeen found himself struggling to garner a reply. Despite the insidious nature of the disembodied speaker, it had pointed out a blisteringly evident point, and from the haunting laughter booming in the twisted catacombs of the android’s mind, it knew all too well of its victory. Frowning heavily, the cyborg came to pause in front of large boulder.

“Leave me,” the raven-haired warrior replied, his hair wafting softly in the breeze as he fought to suppress his sudden desire to sunder the landmark in front of him. Seventeen’s eyes took on an ensanguined hue as his body tried to force him to act against his will. It was a bizarre and uncomfortable sensation, but with a small amount of concentration, it eventually subsided. The android’s hair fell limp onto his neck and his eyes returned to their normal shade of black. “Go,” Seventeen reiterated, his voice conveying a greater sense of malice than it had seconds earlier.

Heh…I’ll be waitin', bucko.